Team keen to take skills to Nepal

From the Amesbury Journal, first published Friday 30th Jan 2004.

AWARD-WINNING first-aiders from Downton are among a team of Wiltshire Army cadets hoping to travel to Nepal this August and get practical experience of treating minor ailments and wounds in the villages east of Kathmandu.

Laura Cooper (captain), Georgi Baker, Kerry Smith and Chantell Cook, all pupils at Downton School, have already proved a winning combination.

Since they got together as a first-aid team ten months ago, they have reached second place in a national competition run by the Army Cadet Force, having triumphed at county and south west regional level, and came third in a competition against teams fielded by the combined services.

The four girls will be joined for the Nepal trip by two more cadets from their own detachment, as well as six from Old Sarum.

County First Aid Officer Captain Nigel Inseal, who will be one of three leaders in charge of the team of boys and girls, said the major problem now was raising the funds.

He is appealing for sponsorship.

"It's reward and recognition for what they've already achieved, which is nothing short of incredible," he says.

"Having had such a success rate in competitions, we decided to put a larger team of 12 together and take them to Pokhara, part of the Anapurna mountain range, and move them round the local villages offering our first aid skills.

"We did something similar years ago, word spread and there were queues waiting.

"We don't know what we'll be faced with, but burns, blisters and cuts are likely."

The group needs to raise £12,000 to make the trip possible and is planning a series of fundraisers.

If anyone would like to help sponsor the trip they should contact Capt Inseal on 01373 823424, or e-mail him at efat@inseal.fsnet.co.uk.

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